Doping in figure skating

Doping in figure skating involves the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), specifically those listed and monitored by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Figure skaters occasionally have positive doping results but it is not common.^[1] Bans can be enforced on figure skaters by the International Skating Union (ISU) and each country's individual skating federation.^[2][3] These bans can often be career ending due to the competitive nature of figure skating. A ban may be revoked if it can be proved that the skater tested positive for a prescribed medication. Some figure skaters will use PEDs to help with recovery time, allowing them to train harder and longer.^[4] Figure skating is an aesthetic sport that combines both athleticism and artistic licence,^[5] where weight-loss substances will have little effect on athletic performance but skaters may be perceived as more graceful and sleek, which is required for an athlete to be competitive.^[5][6]